The Daughter of an Empress eBook

Like a thundering cry of jubilation it was instantly
echoed through the hall.

The generals were the first to join in this enthusiastic
viva!

A quarter of an hour later the generals were permitted
to retire, and the emperor was reconveyed to his apartments.

Anna Leopoldowna remained alone with her husband and
the newly-married pair, who had retreated to the recess
of a window and were whispering together.

Anna now turned to her husband, and, with cutting
coldness in her tone, said:

“You must understand, my husband, that I am
very generous. It was in my power to arrest you
as a traitor, but I preferred to shame you, because
you, unhappily, are the father of my child.”

“You think, then,” asked the prince, with
a scornful smile, “that I shall take the buffoonery
you have just had played before us for truth?”

“That, my prince, must wholly depend upon your
own good pleasure. But for the present I must
request you to retire to your own apartments!
I feel myself much moved and exhausted, and have also
to prepare some secret dispatches for Count Lynar
to take with him in his journey.”

“Yes,” said Anna, “he leaves us
for some weeks to visit the estate in Liefland which
I have given to Julia as a bridal present, and to make
there the necessary preparations for the proper reception
of his wife.”

Julia clasped the hands of her mistress, and bathed
them with tears of joy and gratitude.

“Anna,” whispered Prince Ulrich, “I
did you wrong. Pardon me.”

Anna coldly responded: “I will pardon you
if you will be generous enough to allow me a little
repose.”

The prince silently and respectfully withdrew.

Anna finally, left alone with her lover and her favorite,
sank exhausted upon a divan.

“Close the doors, Julia, that no one may surprise
us,” she faintly murmured. “I will
take leave. Oh, I would be left for at least a
quarter of an hour undisturbed in my unhappiness.”

“Then it is quite true that you intend to drive
me away?” asked Count Lynar, kneeling and clasping
her hands. “You are determined to send me
into banishment?”

Anna gave him a glance of tenderness.

“No,” said she, “I will send myself
into banishment, for I shall not see you dearest.
But I felt that this sacrifice was necessary.
Julia has sacrificed herself for us. With another
love in her heart, she has magnanimously thrown away
her freedom and given up her maiden love for the promotion
of our happiness. We owe it to her to preserve
her honor untarnished, that the calumnious crowd may
not pry into the motives of her generous act.
For Julia’s sake, the world must and shall believe
that she is in fact your wife, and that it was love
that united you. We must, therefore, preserve
appearances, and you must conduct your wife to your
estate in triumph. Decency requires it, and we
cannot disregard its requirements.”